groff



(No Model.)

S. A. GROFF.

LETTER Bog.

No.1519,427. vmefedf-'May a; '1894.

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7%' Jagd( UNITED STATES i ATENT Enrica.

SAMUEL A. GROFF, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DILLER B. GROFF, OF SAME PLACE.

I EI'TlaR-Box.'y

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 519,427, dated May 8, 1894.

Application filed October 7, 1893. Serial No. 487.440. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. GROFF, a citt.

zen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In a letter box as now constructed the ends of the rods which hold the box against the the removal of the box from the post. An

improvement is also made in the indicator as is hereinafter described.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my letter box. Fig. 2 is a vertical section from front to back. Fig. 3 is a plan View of front of the base plate. Fig. 4 is a front view of the box showing the indicator. Fig. 5 is a cross section enlarged taken on the line -oc of' Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the base plate and part of the box taken on the line g/-y of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

The letter A. indicates a letter box such as is usually attached to aplamp post or other support. On one of its sides and integral with it are two parallel flanges a. a. overlapped by a horizontal projection B. A base plate C. curved to fit the post P. is provided with two opposite sides of which are formed fthe counter flanges b. b. adapted to slide upon the anges c.. ct. on the box. The plate C. is secured to the post P. as letter boxes usually are: viz, with bands d. d. passing around the post and through holes in the plate where their threaded `ends are fitted with nuts c. c.; `or in any other preferred manner. A spring g. is attached to the inner side of the plate C. being made adjustable by the slot g. and screw bolt h. so that when the box isin position on the plate C. the button t'. on the end of the spring will be forced into the hole j. in the box thus automatically locking the box and the plate together. moved from the plate only by opening the door D, through which the mail is taken out a rim b, which abuts against the box and upon,

The box can be reand pressing back the button z'. when the box is easily slid upward and disengaged from the flanges. The plate C. although removable when necessary is intended to remain permanently where fixed.

The indicator shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is formed of a narrow rectangular frame R.' having a recesso". around its inner edge next tothe box to receive the indicator plate or card S.

On one side of the frame R. is a lug n. inclined at an oblique angle to the piane of the frame and adapted to engage a recess or opening O. in the box; and, on the opposite side,

is a spring catch T. which when the frame is adjusted on the box enters the hole t. in the box and retains the frame in place.

The indicator frame can be removed only by detaching the catch T. through the opened door D. l

What I claim, and desire to secure, is-

l. In a letter box provided with exterior lianges a base plate having counter flanges adapted to removably engage said exterior anges and having an automatic spring catch to engage a hole in the box and which is de tachable only from within the box and means to secure said base plate to a support substantially as herein set forth,

2. A letter box having exterior flanges overlapped by across projection in combination with a base plate having counter flanges to removably engage said anges on the box a spring on the base plate having a button which automatically engages a hole in the box when the latter is in operative position and means for securing said base plate to a support as herein set forth.

3. A letter box base plate having a forward projecting rim which abuts against the box, flanges formed upon two of its opposite sides to engage flanges on the box, a spring catch adjustable by means of a slot therein and a screw bolt, and having a button to automatically engage a hole in the box a curved back to t upon a lamp post and holes to receive the threaded ends of the bands which by means of nuts screwed upon said bands bind the said plate securely to the post as herein described.

4. In a letter box an indicator formed of a frame having a recess around its inner edge to receive the inscribed plate, an inclined lug adapted to engage a recess in the box and opposite thereto a spring catch to automatically engage a hole in the box when the indicator is in position as herein described.

In testimony whereof I aiiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL A. GRO FF.

Witnesses:

CHAS. P. SWnT'r, JOSEPH HARPER. 

